title: Childhood sexual abuse in black men who have sex with men: results from three qualitative studies.
abstract: This report describes the high prevalence and context of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) across 3 independent qualitative studies. Semistructured one-on-one interviews were conducted with 87 Black MSM across 3 cities (Rochester, NY, n = 28; Lexington, KY /Atlanta, GA, n = 30; and Atlanta, GA, n = 29). A combined CSA prevalence of 32% (28/87) was found among the 3 samples, despite variation in geographic location, mean age, and sexual identification. Common themes emerging across the 3 samples included prolonged and repeated abuse by a close male relative; blaming of same-sex desire on CSA; and descriptions of adverse mental health reactions to CSA. Implications of CSA and its potential influence on the mental health and risky sexual behavior among Black MSM are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. sheldon_fields@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Sheldon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malebranche
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feist-Price
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires